Woman, 60, scammed out of over $2m by soldier impersonator on Tinder

A 60-year-old woman was scammed out of over HK$2 million after she purchased more than 450 iTunes gift cards for a scammer impersonating a soldier on the dating app Tinder.

The woman encountered the impersonator on Tinder about six months ago, where he posed as a soldier. Their relationship quickly progressed, and they soon considered themselves a couple.

However, the so-called soldier claimed he was facing financial difficulties and used various excuses to persuade the victim to transfer money. Believing her partner needed financial support, she purchased more than 450 iTunes gift cards for him over a short period, ultimately losing more than HK$2 million.

A police spokesperson emphasized that scammers target individuals regardless of their age, gender, or occupation. They often impersonate different personas and urged the public to exercise caution when interacting with new acquaintances on apps.

They also recommended using tools like the "Scameter" available on the CyberDefender website or the "Scameter App." These tools allow users to verify the legitimacy of investment platforms by entering URLs, phone numbers, and account details, helping to prevent similar incidents.